Hand Hygiene Facts

WE BELIEVE THAT ALL PREVENTABLE INFECTIONS SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
BETTER HAND HYGIENE SAVES LIVES.
  • More than 1.4 million people suffer from heathcare-associated infections (HAI) at any time worldwide [1]
  • In developed countries, HAI concerns 5–15% of hospitalized patients [1]
  • There is a 7% chance of contracting HAI even in high-class hospitals
  • HAIs imply prolonged hospital stay, long-term disability, increased resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobials and massive additional financial burden.
  • 5 million HAI are estimated to occur in European hospitals annually, representing around 25 million extra days of hospital stay and a corresponding economic burden of €13–24 billion [1]
  • In the USA HAI affects 1.7 million patients, and 99 000 deaths were attributed to HAI. The annual economic impact of HAI was US$ 6.5 billion in 2004 [1]
  • Proper hand hygiene eliminates at least 30% of HAI
  • Hand hygiene is the most effective way to reduce the spread of pathogens
  • Average hand hygiene compliance is around 40%
  • Electronic Compliance Monitoring Systems more or less can verify conpliance
  • 28% of staff miss areas on hands during hand disinfection [2]
  • Hand hygiene Technique Monitoring Systems (e.g., the Semmelweis System) can evaluate the effectiveness of hand hygiene [3]
  • Immediate feedback can help to improve hand hygiene technique

 USEFUL RESORCES

 WHO – World Health Organization
 
   SAVE LIVES: Clean your hand
   Global campaign to support improvements in hand hygiene
   Published in 2002
   CDC recent work to prevent infectious disease
   USA's most widely used healthcare-associated infection tracking system

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